Porifera from Ponta do Ouro (Mozambique)

The diversity of Porifera from Ponta do Ouro (Mozambique) has been evaluated; this paper presents the fi rst taxonomic effort devoted to sponges in the area, while studies of closeby areas are quite dated. Overall, 55 specimens were examined, leading to 26 described species; among these, four are new (Hyattella sulfurea Calcinai & Belfi ore sp. nov., H. pedunculata Calcinai & Belfi ore sp. nov., Amphimedon palmata Calcinai & Belfi ore sp. nov. and Phoriospongia mozambiquensis Calcinai & Belfi ore sp. nov.) and four (Chondrosia corticata Thiele, 1900, Callyspongia (Cladochalina) aerizusa Desqueyroux-Faundez, 1984, Clathria (Thalysias) hirsuta Hooper & Levi, 1993 and Ciocalypta heterostyla Hentschel, 1912) are new records for the Indian Ocean. For Callyspongia (Euplacella) abnormis Pulitzer-Finali, 1993, Callyspongia (Callyspongia) pulitzeri Van Soest & Hooper, 2020 and Amphimedon brevispiculifera (Dendy, 1905) this represents the fi rst record after their initial discovery. The majority of the species have a wide distribution in the Indo-Pacifi c Ocean, but species from South and East Africa have also been recorded. These data highlight the characteristic of Ponta do Ouro as a transitional zone, located between a tropical and temperate biogeographic province, as well as the importance of increasing biodiversity knowledge of this biogeographic border to monitor possible shifts in the area as a consequence of climate crisis.


Introduction
The specimens fi t perfectly with the original description of Pseudoceratina purpurea (Carter, 1880) in the general morphology and in the scarcely developed fi bers. More recent, complete description and illustrations are available in Bergquist (1965: 135, fi g. 6, as Psammaplysilla purpurea).
The species is widely distributed in the Indo-Pacifi c Ocean and has been already recorded in Madagascar (Vacelet et al. 1976).

Etymology
Named after its yellow color in life, from the Latin name 'sulfureus', meaning 'yellow'.

Description
The live sponge (Fig. 4A) is spherical, irregularly massive; on the surface, a net of fi bers creates a clear web pattern connecting the prominent oscula among the thin cuticle. Where the sponge is not covered by foreign material and epibionts, the color appears light yellow (Fig. 4A). The color in the preserved state is dark brown (the pigments colored also the alcohol with a dark pinkish tinge). The sponge is fi rm and compressible; the body is lacunose.
SKELETON. It consists of a quite regular network of primary fi bers, 25-55 μm wide, the secondary fi bers, 10-20 μm wide, form polygonal meshes of 200-250 μm in dimensions (Fig. 4B). Primary fi bers less common with respect to secondary ones. All the fi bers are free from inclusions.

Remarks
The species of the genus Hyattella have a lacunose body, an unarmoured surface and a skeleton composed of common, primary fi bers linked by secondary fi bers; primary fi bres are cored and the secondary are free of inclusion (Cook & Bergquist 2002). However, the species Hyattella cavernosa (Pallas, 1766), whose skeleton is free of foreign material (see Lendenfeld 1889: 298, as Hippospongia dura), such as H. sulfurea sp. nov., is included in this genus. On that note, we consider the species here described belonging to the genus Hyattella, on the basis of its lacunose body, unarmored surface, common primary fi bers and the presence of a dermal reticulation. Other related genera, such as Spongia Linnaeus, 1759 and Hippospongia Schulze, 1879 include species devoid of a lacunose body, or devoid of common primary fi bers or a dermal reticulation.
This genus includes 21 species, all with an Indo-Pacifi c distribution except for H. obscura Lendenfeld, 1889 andH. cavernosa (Pallas, 1766) from the Atlantic Ocean (Van Soest et al. 2019). All these species are characterized by thicker primary and secondary fi bers. Only H. meander Lendenfeld, 1889 has thinner primary and secondary fi bers of 47 μm and 27-47 μm, respectively, but it is branched and its primary fi bers are full of sand.

Etymology
The species is named 'pedunculata' due to its characteristic stalk, in Latin 'pedunculus'.

Description
The sponge is pedunculate and the massive, globular body is supported by a short stalk (Fig. 5A-B). The color is reddish-pink, but in alcohol it turns creamy. The reddish color is still preserved in the dried European Journal of Taxonomy 698: 1-56 (2020) 10 state. The paratype (MSNG 61419) presents irregular short and thick digitations (Fig. 5A, C) while in the holotype (MSNG 61418) the surface is more even (Fig. 5B). At a microscopic observation, the surface is smooth and appears cribrous; the consistence is fi rm but compressible. The body is cavernous, completely perforated by large lacunae (Fig. 5C).

Remarks
The specimens belong to the genus Hyattella Lendenfeld, 1888, showing a lacunose body, an unarmoured surface and a skeleton composed by common primary fi bers linked by secondary fi bers. This species is characterized by the small size of its primary and secondary fi bers compared to the size of the fi bers in the other species of the genus; moreover, the pedunculate shape is rare among species of the genus Hyattella; only Hyattella globosa Lendenfeld, 1889 partially fi ts the studied specimens in the general morphology (spherical sponge, attached by a small base) and in its cribrose surface. The principal differences are in the larger dimensions of the fi bers (up to 100 μm) and in the presence of compound meshes creating 'perforated plates' in H. globosa.

Description
Live sponge erect, cylindrical-tubular ( Fig. 6A-B); the examined specimens are pink (Fig. 6B), pale violet ( Fig. 6A) or creamy-white (Fig. 6C). The samples, preserved in alcohol, turn sand-colored, while the dryly preserved sample is creamy-white colored. The surface is strongly conulose (Fig. 6A-C). The consistence is very tough, elastic and compressible in samples preserved in alcohol, while the dried sample is very fi rm and uncompressible.

Remarks
These samples fi t with C. abnormis Pulitzer-Finali, 1993 from Mombasa, Kenya, in external morphology, skeleton structure, and spicule shape and size. The examination of the slides of the holotype confi rms the identifi cation. This new fi nding allowed us to assign the species to the subgenus Euplacella, considering that the ectosomal skeleton is made by one size of small rounded mesh, echinated by spicules. This is the fi rst record of the species since its original description.

Description
Live sponge branching in shape, with prominent oscula organized in a row in the upper side (Fig. 8A).

Remarks
The morphology, skeleton, and spicule size, as well as the shape of the examined specimen fi t those of the original description from North Kenya Banks. Moreover, the prominent oscula organized in a row on the upper side and the multispicular primary fi bers of the choanosome are peculiar characteristics. The examination of the holotype (Callyspongia subtilis Pulitzer-Finali, 1993) confi rms the identifi cation.

Description
The live sponge is arborescent, with fl attened branches often anastomosing (Fig. 9A); oscules are numerous and concentrated on the upper margin of the branches (Fig. 9A). Light purple in vivo, the specimen conserved in alcohol is pale yellow; the surface is smooth, the consistence is fi rm and elastic. The preserved sample consists of two small fragments; the biggest being a small branch about 4 cm long and 1.5 cm thick.

Remarks
Out of 57 species of the genus Amphimedon, 30 are recorded in the Indo-Pacifi c Ocean (Van Soest et al. 2019). The examined specimen fi ts with A. brevispiculifera described from the Gulf of Manaar. They share the same general morphology, disposition of the oscules and the short dimension of the spicules (100 × 5.5 μm); the species name "brevispiculifera" means 'with short spicules'. All the other species of Amphimedon in the Indo-Pacifi c Ocean are characterized by longer oxeas.
The present specimen is apparently morphologically similar to the sponge recently recorded by Samaai et al. (2019) in South Africa and named Callyspongia (Cladochalina) diffusa sensu Samaai et al. (2019).
This species was previously known only from South India and Sri Lanka (Laccadive Sea); thus, it is the fi rst record since its original description and a new record for the studied area.

Diagnosis
This species of Amphimedon is characterized by fl attened and rounded branches, and oscules located on the branches' rims.

Etymology
Named after the sponge growth form, consisting of fl at and rounded branches.

Description
Live sponge arborescent-palmate (Fig. 10A), with oscula scattered on the upper margin of the fl attened branches (Fig. 10A). The color is pinkish in life; ochre for the fragment preserved in alcohol. The surface is uneven, but optically smooth; the consistence is soft and compressible. The examined sample is a short palmate fragment 0.5-1 cm in thickness.

Remarks
This species belongs to the genus Amphimedon that is characterized by an optically smooth surface, and a regular, tangential, ectosomal network with rounded meshes of a single size. Ends of choanosomal, longitudinal, primary fi bers are barely protruding. Spongin is abundant (  The examined material is close to A. ochracea (Keller, 1889) in the fi ber, mesh and spicule dimensions; Keller (1889), in fact, reported the main fi bers with a thickness of 50 μm, and secondary fi bers of 10-15 μm. The mesh sizes are between 0.1 and 0.15 mm. Oxeas are straight and pointed, 100 μm long but thinner (1.5 μm in diameter). The main difference is in the shape, color and general morphology of the sponge. Keller's species is ochraceous and has rounded branches, while the new species is pinkish and has fl attened branches; in A. ochracea the large oscules are star-shaped and located along the branches, not on the rims. Amphimedon brevispiculifera (Dendy, 1905), as described above, is purple and has a different skeleton structure. The other species of the area, A. chloros Ilan, Gugel & Van Soest, 2004 Pulitzer-Finali, 1993, A. rubida Pulitzer-Finali, 1993, A. rubiginosa Pulitzer-Finali, 1993and A. spinosa Pulitzer-Finali, 1993, show a morphology from encrusting to cylindrical, never arborescent or palmate as the specimen here described. Amphimedon delicatula (Dendy, 1889), recorded from Sri Lanka, has a similar shape ("bushily lamellar"), but presents very stout choanosomal primary fi bers, 126 μm in diameter. Amphimedon subcilindrica (Dendy, 1905) is described as a cylindrical, repent-ramose sponge but with bigger oxeas (140 × 8 μm) and different choanosomal skeleton (stout primary fi bers, up to 66 μm, and sub-rectangular meshes). All the other species are different either in spicule size, color or growth form.
Based on the peculiar morphological features of A. palmata sp. nov. and on the morphological differences with all the other species, A. palmata sp. nov. is considered a new species of the genus Amphimedon.

Description
Live sponge globular-massive, with oscular tubes arising from the upper surface ( Fig. 11A-C). The two specimens had distinct colors in life: bright red on the exterior and yellow inside ( Fig. 11A-B), and dark brown on the exterior and light brown inside (Fig. 11C). Both dried samples are dark brown, fi rm and with a smooth surface.

Remarks
The samples belong to the genus Oceanapia Norman, 1869, considering the numerous fi stulae on the surface and the general skeleton structure. The genus includes 95 species, 75 of them from the Indo-Pacifi c Ocean (Santos Neto et al. 2018). The skeleton, spicule size and general morphology fi t the original description of Oceanapia ramsayi Lendenfeld, 1888 from Australia. The holotype was described as yellow, while other, subsequent records of this species report a red color, such as in Itampolo, Madagascar (Bensemhoun et al. 2008) and brown in Port Jackson, Australia (Hallman 1914). Moreover, Hallman pointed out that his specimen, different from the holotype, was devoid of stout, central tubes, although it occurs with the examined material from Mozambique. The species is also known from the east coast of South Africa (Schleyer et al. 2006).

Description
Live sponge massive, bulbous, partially burrowing ( Fig. 12A) and with the surface covered by large, circular, low, rounded plates, similar to fl at tubercles. Color bright orange, while the tubercles are darkred, brownish colored (Fig. 12A); the sample preserved in alcohol is beige. The sponge is fl eshy and compressible. The surface appears smooth, but is micro-hispid at microscope magnifi cation.

Remarks
The specimen belongs to the genus Myrmekioderma Elhers, 1870 characterized by a halichondroid organization of the choanosomal skeleton, a detachable ectosomal skeleton of acanthoxeas and by the presence of trichodragmata on the surface (Hooper 2002).
To date, there are 11 species belonging to this genus, six of which have records only in the Atlantic Ocean (Van Soest et al. 2019). Among the others, Myrmekioderma niveum (Row, 1911) presents a yellowish-white color and has just one category of smooth oxeas. Myrmekioderma dendyi (Burton, 1959) was recorded from Madagascar (Van Soest et al. 2019), but is characterized by an even surface with some digitate processes. Myrmekioderma pacifi cum Pulitzer-Finali, 1996 from the Bismark Sea has smooth and thicker oxeas (7-45 μm) with, sometimes, strongylote modifi cations (never found in this specimen) and longer trichodragmata (100-130 μm). Myrmekioderma tubercolatum (Keller, 1891), found in the Red Sea, has a different morphology and the spicule composition is different, with the absence of trichodragmata and the presence of strongylote modifi cations.
The very peculiar external morphology, with the rounded plates and the oxea shape, fi t the descriptions of Myrmekioderma granulatum (Esper, 1829). This species has a wide distribution in the Indian and Pacifi c Ocean (Van Soest et al. 2019), with a corresponding high degree of variability, even concerning the presence or the absence of some spicule category (Bergquist 1965

Description
The live sponge is irregularly massive, lobate, with oscules either fl ush with the surface or opening upon mounds ( Fig. 13A-C). The color of the surface is brown while the body is blueish. The samples preserved in alcohol are ochre with an uneven surface, in some parts microhispid. The consistence is fi rm and slightly compressible.

SPICULES. Phyllotriaenes
The original description of T. conica is concise and no spicule measurements are given; the species was described from Halmahera, Indonesia, but records in the Indian Ocean and Red Sea are numerous (Van Soest et al. 2019). The material examined fi ts with the published descriptions of this species. In particular T. conica is described by Ilan et al. (2004) with strongyles, but no tylotes, and with straight acanthorhabds. They also underlined that the color of the internal part of this species is deep blue. Moreover, Lévi (1958) described T. conica from the Red Sea with spicules, fi tting in shape and size with the present samples. In the examined specimens, very few desmas have been detected; they can be considered as rare spicules, not always produced by the sponge, as Thiele (1900) reported these spicules as being not numerous and scattered.

Description
Live sponge irregularly massive (Fig. 14 A-D). Color from light or vivid blue to brown; the surface is often covered by epibionths which hide the superfi cial sponge color. The samples preserved in alcohol are beige with a greenish shade. The surface is uneven, the consistence is tough and uncompressible.

Remarks
This sponge is widespread in the studied area; it fi ts with the species Theonella timmi as recently described by Samaai et al. (2019) from South Africa for its blue color, both interior and exterior, and for the shape and size of its spicules.

Description
Sponge in encrusting stage (β) (IMG0830, PdO19, PdO22, PO22, PO23 and PO64) and massive stage (γ) (IMGO913 and PO23). Two main chromatic varieties, shifting from ochre to orange (Fig. 15A-B) to pale or light yellow (Fig. 15C-D). Specimens, dried and alcohol preserved, are brown in color. The consistence of the papillae and of the γ-stage forms is fi rm and incompressible. The body of the γ-stage is cavernous. The sponges in the γ-stage are full of foreign material, also derived by their erosion and engulfi ng activity.
SKELETON. In the papillae, long and slim tylostyles are organized in palisade, in other parts the skeleton is more confused.  15E) with a prominent head (Fig. 15F); in numerous tylostyles the axial canal and the vesicle in the tylo are evident. They measure 295-(307.87)-345 μm × 2.5-(6.7)-7.5 μm.

Remarks
This species was recently described by Samaai et al. (2019) from South Africa; it is widespread in the studied area where it develops a sort of biogenic fence up to 50 cm high.

Description
Massive sponge (Fig. 16A-B), cup-shaped, light beige in the external and darker in the internal side. The alcohol preserved fragment is hard and incompressible, with a grey surface and a compact darker body.

Remarks
Our specimen perfectly fi ts the species recently described from South Africa by Samaai et al. (2019), with the exception of a larger variety of spirasters present in the specimen from Punta do Ouro. (Ridley, 1884)

Description
The sample, preserved dry, is a fragment collected from a sponge in the γ-stage (Fig. 17A); this and other observed specimens, very common in the area, are attached by a broad base, with one or more large vents and numerous digitate protuberances; it is brown, with a smooth surface and a cavernous body; the consistence is tough and incompressible.
SKELETON. In the papillae, tylostyles are organized in palisade, in other parts the skeleton is more confused.

Remarks
This species is widely distributed in the Indo-Pacifi c Ocean.

Description
The sponge is lamellate, erect or massive ( Fig. 18A-C). Oscules visible in the live specimens are small, slightly elevated and transparent (Fig. 18B). The sponge is brownish-orange in color and has an areolate surface (Fig. 18A). The samples preserved in alcohol are dark brown and have a stone-like consistence, but are friable and maintain the areolate surface; the abundant presence of sediment is clearly evident.
SKELETON. The ectosome and the choanosome are almost completely made by columns of grains, with brushes of spicules close to the surface.

Remarks
The examined material fi ts the original description of Chondropsis lamella (Lendenfeld, 1888) from Australia; only the color is different: brownish-orange in the examined samples, instead of greyishpink; this difference may be due to the nature of the foreign bodies used by the sponge in very large quantity to build its skeleton. Chondropsis lamella has an Indo-Pacifi c distribution (Van Soest et al. 2019) and has already been recorded in this area (Vacelet et al. 1976). Species characteristics of the genus Chondropsis Carter, 1886 from the original descriptions are resumed in Table 2. Chondropsis isimangaliso was recently described by Samaai et al. (2019) from eastern South Africa; it is similar in its external morphology to the specimens here described, but it differs in having a single category of sigmas.
On the sample PO79, the hydroid Zyzzyzus warreni Calder, 1988 (Class Hydrozoa, Phylum Cnidaria) was detected.   Fig. 19, Table 3 Diagnosis A red species of Phoriospongia characterized by styles with stepped tips, C and S-shaped sigmas, and isochelae.

Etymology
The specifi c name is derived from type locality.

Description
The live sponge (Fig. 19A) is irregularly massive, bright red and covered by algal turf. The fragment preserved in alcohol changed the color to grey, with an uneven surface. It is very hard and friable and rich in sediments.

Remarks
This sponge belongs to the genus Phoriospongia, which is characterized by "skeletal columns cored by styles and foreign material [...]; sigmas usually present" (Van Soest 2002). The genus Phoriospongia Marshall, 1880 includes 13 species, all with an Indo-Pacifi c Ocean distribution, mainly from Australia (Van Soest et al. 2019). Due to the nature of the skeleton and to the capacity of the sponge to incorporate foreign bodies, it is diffi cult to clearly detect the skeleton organization, and most of the original descriptions are inadequate (Table 3). Phoriospongia arenifi brosa (Dendy, 1896) differs from this new species due to the absence of megascleres and to the morphology (erect, palmo-digitate sponge). Phoriospongia argentea (Marshall, 1880) has shorter styles (80 μm) and does not have any microscleres. Phoriospongia canaliculata Lendenfeld, 1889 has oxeas instead of styles. Phoriospongia reticulum (Marshall, 1880) and P. solida Marshall, 1880 differ in the possession of tylostyles. Phoriospongia fl abellopalmata (Carter, 1885) shows a smooth and even surface, with longer styles and raphides as microscleres. Phoriospongia carcinophila (Lendenfeld, 1889), P. levis Lendenfeld, 1888, P. mammillata (Lendenfeld, 1888) and P. syringiana (Whitelegge, 1906) have different megascleres, i.e., strongyles instead of styles. The description of P. papillosa (Lamarck, 1815) is inadequate and neither megascleres nor microscleres are reported. Phoriospongia poni (De Laubenfeld, 1950), described from the Hawaii Islands, has three kinds of megascleres, i.e., oxeas, strongyles and styles. In the original description, P. squalida Lendenfeld, 1888, spicules are not described and, moreover, the sponge is reported as erect and tubular.
Considering the affi nities between Phoriospongia and Chondropsis, the species of the latter genus have been used for a comparison, but none was found to fi t the new species from Mozambique (

Description
Sponge massively encrusting or massive (Fig. 20A-B). On the surface, the exhalant system is evident as a vein-like pattern converging on the oscula (Fig. 20B). The color is yellow, mottled with brick red patches (Fig. 20A-B). In alcohol, the sponge changes its color to brown. Where the ectosome is preserved, the surface is smooth and the areolate surface still evident. The consistence is fi rm and incompressible.
SKELETON. The ectosome consists of a layer of compact smooth styles, easily detachable. The choanosome presents a reticulum of multispicular primary fi bers, between 70 and 150 μm, with meshes up to 300 μm, and secondary multispicular fi bers, 30-50 μm in section, with smooth, interstitial styles.

Remarks
The specimens belong to the genus Iotrochota Ridley, 1884, due to the structure of the choanosome with multispicular fi bers and the presence of two different kinds of megascleres and birotulas. It comprises 15 species, with nine spread in the Indo-Pacifi c Ocean. Iotrochota nigra (Baer, 1906) was recorded in the same geographic area (East Africa), but differs in morphology and color, and, above all, in the absence of birotulas. Iotrochota baculifera Rildley, 1884 and I. purpurea (Bowerbank, 1875) are from the West Pacifi c Ocean, I. pella (de Laubenfl es, 1954) and I. iota (de Laubenfels, 1954) are from Micronesia, I. protea (de Laubenfels, 1950) is from Hawaii, I. membranacea (Esper, 1794) is recorded in the East Pacifi c Ocean, I. coccinea (Carter, 1886) is from Australia. All these species are massive, dark violetblack colored and differ from the Mozambican specimens in spicule sizes and morphology. Iotrochota sinki, recently described by Samaai et al. (2019) from South Africa, perfectly matches the specimens from Mozambique, especially in the external morphology. Some differences are in the megascleres, as in I. sinki, styles in three size classes are recognized, and strongyles (that are considered rare) are longer (168-281 × 4 μm).
The and its spicule features. Iotrochota birotulata shows a highly variable morphology, often erect, and is dark purple colored. The Mozambican specimens are characterized by the presence of two kind of styles (typical of the species of this genus) and strongyles are intermingled throughout the sponge; even the spicule dimensions fi t those of the type species I. birotulata. Considering the disjunct geographic distribution of this record with respect to I. birotulata, it is convenient to identify the Mozambican species as Iotrochota cf. sinki Samaai et al. 2019 pending further molecular studies that could clarify its cryptogenic nature. The specimen PO85 (Fig. 20A)

Description
The sponge is massive (Fig. 21A-B), digitiform and arborescent (Fig. 21C). The exhalant channels converge in numerous, large oscula ( Fig. 21A-B). The color may vary from bright orange to vivid red ( Fig. 21 A-C). Both samples preserved in alcohol changed their color to beige. The surface is verrucose and the consistence is elastic.
SKELETON. The ectosome consists of a layer of small styles. The choanosome is formed by an irregular reticulation from pauci-to multispicular primary fi bers, 52-73 μm in section, and secondary unispicular fi bers, 24-41 μm. Both are spongin rich and are cored by smooth styles. Echinating acanthostyles are present on the primary fi bers (Fig. 21D).

Remarks
Clathria (Thalysias) hirsuta Hooper & Levi, 1993 was exclusively known from New Caledonia and Australia (Great Barrier Reef); this is the fi rst record in the Indian Ocean. The spicule shape, size and the morphology fi t the original description of the species. However, Hooper & Levi (1993) recognized two distinct populations, with some morphological differences, one from Queensland and one from New Caledonia. The morphological characters (especially spicule size) make the specimens, here examined, closer to the population from New Caledonia.

Description
The live sponge is massive, with rounded conules covering the surface (Fig. 22A). The color is redorange. The fragments preserved in alcohol are beige in color; they have a digitate-conulose surface and a very fi rm consistence.
SKELETON. The ectosome consists of a paratangential layer of thin styles (Fig. 22B). The choanosome (Fig. 22C) is made by a reticulation of multispicular primary fi bers, 70-125 μm in section, and secondary fi bers, 23-35 μm, forming irregularly rounded meshes around 150 μm wide. The fi bers have a core of styles and are echinated by acanthostyles.

Remarks
The specimens fi t the original description of Clathria (Thalysias) vulpina (Lamarck, 1814) from Australia. The species has already been found in the area (Thomas 1979

Description
No available photos of the live sponge. The dried sample is a thin dirty-white lamina (20 × 30 × 5 mm), smooth and fragile.

Remarks
The specimen belongs to the genus Tedania Gray, 1867 based on the presence of two kinds of megascleres, one monoactinial and one diactinial, and onychaetes; the assignment to the subgenus is tricky: species belonging to the subgenus Tedania Gray, 1867 have, generally, spined tylotes, but, e.g., Tedania (Tedania) toxicalis De Laubenfels, 1930 has smooth tylotes (see also Desqueyroux & Van Soest 1996: 54); Tedaniopsis Dendy, 1924 has longer choanosomal megascleres (> 350 μm) and Trachytedania Ridley, 1881 has mucronate or oxeote tornotes as ectosomal megascleres. As a consequence and also considering the reduced size of the specimen, preventing any additional investigation, we prefer not to attribute any subgenus or species to this sponge and describe it as Tedania sp.

Description
The sponge is burrowed under the sediment and only its erect fi stules are visible (Fig. 24A). These are whitish, transparent, showing the yellow, internal axis. The alcohol preserved sample is a thin massive base bearing fi stules; the color is dirty white. The consistence is really soft and extremely compressible.
SKELETON. The skeleton of the basal part consists of multispicular tracts in confusion and grains of sediment (Fig. 24B). The skeleton of fi stules (Fig. 24C) has a central axis of densely packed spicules, about 100 μm in section, close to the base, and gradually thinner towards the apex of the fi stula. From the axis, multispicular fi bers, 20-25 μm in section, develop, opening in fans close to the surface (Fig. 24C).

Remarks
The presence on the surface of numerous fi nger-shaped and transparent fi stulae with a central axis and the general structure of the skeleton are typical features of the genus

Description
The sponge is massive, partially burrowing, with light yellow fi stules (Fig. 25A) rising above the sediment. The dried sample is whitish, the body is rich in sediment, while the fi stules are erect and fragile, with a rough surface.
SKELETON. In the body, it is formed by a confused reticulation, with loose tracts of oxeas (Fig. 25B).
The fi stules have a central axis of loose-packed oxeas from where tracts of spicules radiate towards the surface.

Remarks
The presence of numerous fi nger-shaped and transparent fi stulae with a central axis and the general structure of the skeleton characterize the genus Ciocalypta Bowerbank, 1862 Terpios granulosus Bergquist, 1967 Fig. 26 Terpios granulosa Bergquist, 1967: 168, fi g. 5.

Material examined
PONTA
SKELETON. It is formed by brushes of spicules which, projecting also over the surface, cause the microhispid surface (Fig. 26B).

Remarks
The peculiar shape of the heads, the general morphology and the skeletal structure are typical characters of species in the genus Terpios Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1864. The specimen fi ts the description of Terpios granulosus (Bergquist, 1967) from Hawaii later also recorded by Vacelet & Vasseur (1971) and Barnes & Bell (2002)

Description
The sponge is lamellate, foliose; color is dark red to violet (Fig. 27A-B). On the surface, two specimens present algal turf. The samples preserved in alcohol changed color to beige; the dried samples are whitish, light brown; in the dried state, spicule tracts create an irregular pattern and thick lines on the surface. The samples have a micro-bristly surface and an elastic consistence.
SKELETON. The ectosome is constituted of a layer of densely packed euasters (Fig. 27C). the choanosome with plumo-reticulate tracts is formed by megascleres (Fig. 27D), without a well-marked differentiation between axial and extra-axial regions.